Week 40

An interesting ending to an otherwise routine week. It's not often that we have riots in downtown Salt Lake and curfews that keep us in and isolated. We're fine and safe! No worries, but still a little unsettling. 

My friend sent a sweet reminder this morning in a talk given by Elder Ronald A. Rasband "Be Not Troubled" (October 2018). He said, "Remember, 'they that be with us' on both sides of the veil, those who love the Lord with all their heart, might, mind, and strength, 'are more than they that be with them.' If we actively trust in the Lord and His ways, if we are engaged in His work, we will not fear the trends of the world or be troubled by them. I plead with you to set aside worldly influences and pressures and seek spirituality in your daily life. Love what the Lord loves - which includes His commandments, His holy houses, our sacred covenants with Him, the sacrament each Sabbath day, our communication through prayer - and you will not be troubled." This helped me a lot!

Another sweet message this week was from Elder Bednar. Every day there is a short video message to the Family History Department. I watched the one from Elder Bednar where he left an apostolic blessing at the end. Since it extends to family, I thought you might like to read what he said: "Before I invoke this blessing -  in a situation where we cannot gather, when those of us who hold apostolic keys invoke a blessing, in every way except the literal laying on of hands it is exactly the same as if hands were being placed upon your head. So though I can’t one by one place my hands upon your heads, the Lord will, by the power of His Spirit. I invoke the blessing that you will have eyes to see the lessons you need to see, and that you will have ears to hear the lessons that you need to hear. And I invoke the blessing that as you take those lessons and learn from the past but look forward, you will be magnified, you will be blessed, you will be strengthened in miraculous ways. This blessing will apply to your individual life, in your family, and in the work that you perform. And I declare my witness - I invoke this blessing upon you, and I again express my love to you and for you in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."

Remember that we are surrounded by angels - some we cannot see - and there are more for us than those against us. I'm grateful for the angels in my life - most of them I call family!